On Saturday at 8:00 p.m., every seat in the Adler Theater was filled. The spotlight shined on the piano as the performers rehearsed outside, preparing to perform for their colleagues, friends, family and students at the first annual Faculty and Staff Music Show.
The set list for the night consisted of seven performers. The first, Jillian Weiss, professor of law and society, played Beethoven’s moonlight Sonata, followed by a duet of Beethoven’s Sonata Op. 24, Second Movement: Adagio Molto Expressivo, performed by Doctor Michael Alcee, and Librarian Christina Connor.
Soon after their performance, Professor Itay Goren entered the room to greet the crowd. He was performing with Jee Sun Lee and Suji Kim. Jee Sun Lee is a professional violinist who began playing as a soloist for the Seoul Orchestra in Korea at the age of nine. The trio played Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio in D Minor, Op. 49.
“This was one of Mendelssohn’s first piano trios,” said Professor Goren.
Goren went on to tell the story behind the piece.
“You see, when he first wrote it, he had taken it to his friend, a fellow composer and colleague. The response that he got was that he should make it more romantic, more involved. And that’s exactly what he did. We hope that you enjoy it,” Goren went on to say.
The trio put on an amazing performance, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd at the end.
There were many more performances for the night, including another solo by Professor Goren, performing Chopin’s Ballade in G minor, Op. 23, a quartet performance by Professor Mack Brandon who played the piano, Professor Mark Gidal playing the bass, Professor Lisa Lutter singing and a performance by accomplished drummer, Professor Bobby Deitch.
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bsmith12@ramapo.edu
